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Turkey

• Government Seizure of Six Churches

  
  Worshippers celebrate the reconsecration of the Surp Giragos Armenian Apostolic Church in 2011.
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  After ten months of urban conflict in Turkey's war-torn southeast, the government has expropriated huge sections of property, apparently to rebuild and restore the historical centre of the region's largest city of Diyarbakir. But to the dismay of the city's handful of Christian congregations -- including all its Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches -- it also means the relinquishment of control. Unlike the state-funded mosques, Turkey's ancient church buildings (some of which pre-date Islam) have been managed historically by church foundations. The new decision has effectively made the Diyarbakir churches state property of Turkey, an Islamic country consisting of 75 million people.

  Perhaps the most shocking seizure involved the Virgin Mary Church in the Lalabey neighbourhood. The 1,700-year-old Syriac Orthodox church claims to contain relics that are especially meaningful to Christians such as a piece of the cross and the bones of the Apostle Thomas. The present leader of the church announced that he is currently negotiating with government representatives in hopes of having the church property returned.

  Local municipal officials criticized the government for lacking legal justification for the takeover and potentially causing enormous social and cultural damage to the city. Government officials argue that the decision was even-handed as mosque properties were also expropriated in the move. However, in Turkey, mosques are already state property, since the government funds their construction, maintenance, as well as the salaries of their imams. Further information on persecution in this country is available at the Turkey Country Report.

  Please uphold these Christians in Turkey who have had their churches and places of worship taken over by a government that does not represent their beliefs, values or ordinances. Ask the Lord to oversee the mediation process as church officials and government representatives endeavour to work out a solution that's both honouring to Him and fair to all the members of the various churches involved. Throughout the process, may the believers experience a complete sense of God's peace, knowing that all the earth is ultimately His, and everything in it. Also important is the fact that no one can ever take away their faith, nor their great love for Him.

• Historical Church Permitted to Continue Services

  
  A worship service at Bursa’s
  French Church Cultural Centre
  led by Pastor Ismail.
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  Church-going Christians in Bursa, a large city located within northwest Turkey, were ordered by officials to vacate their premises by February 26th. We are delighted to report that on the 23rd, three days before the previously announced deadline, city authorities had rescinded the order to vacate. Various congregations share the historic "French church" dating back to the 1880s -- the only recognized place of Christian worship in Bursa.

  For decades, the church sat in ruins. Aykan Erdemir, a Turkish academic who grew up in Bursa and is now a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told reporters that as a child he played among the piles of rubble with friends. He saw the church's reopening as a symbol of Bursa rediscovering its multicultural past.

  Upon news of the initial eviction order, Aykan was mindful of Turkey's failure to institutionalize religious freedom for its non-Muslim minority. "Christians do not have any legal entitlement to the building. They only have usage rights for the time being, which I think is a very precarious situation," he explains. "Members of non-majority religions have to depend on the goodwill of bureaucrats and the majority population. Such problems will continue to happen until religious minorities have property rights for their houses of worship and restitution rights to use their historical churches."

  The church remains a symbol of the struggle experienced by the city's non-Muslims to become an accepted part of society. Pastor Ismail Kulakciolgu, who represents one of the four congregations that regularly conduct worship services at the historical church, tried to convince the council that Bursa would lose a priceless piece of its cultural heritage if the congregations were forced out of their building: "We're trying to explain that this church, which is used as a house of worship by different congregations, is perhaps the only example of its kind in the world."

  Additional reports, including informative video clips, pertaining to persecution in this country are available at the Turkey Country Report.

  Let us join together in praising God for the permission that was recently granted by local governing officials to the members of this multicultural church in Turkey, allowing for the continuance of their worship services. Pray that as these Christians, representing various denominational affiliations, gather peacefully in this beautiful sanctuary of worship, their special bond of unity and love will serve as a strong witness to others in the city of Bursa and throughout Turkey. Also pray that their Turkish society will champion religious liberty for all of the country's citizens.

• New Development in Case Against Conspirators

  
  Pastor Emre Karaali

  A new development arose in the case against those who conspired to kill Pastor Emre Karaali. In January 2013, Pastor Emre learned that more than a dozen people -- including some who had infiltrated his church and even babysat his children -- were planning to assassinate him. Evidently, those plotting his death had associations with a police chief and military officer. Because of this, the courts had also indicted the two officers.

  After waiting a year for the officers to give their story, Pastor Emre's lawyer notified him that they are no longer required to give witness statements, claiming there is not enough evidence that they had any part in the plot. Though there were phone records showing a connection between the assassins and the officers, and earlier court hearings have confirmed the relationship between them, prosecutors do not see these connections as sufficient evidence. This means the decision will have to be appealed, further prolonging the case.

  Although Pastor Emre has forgiven those who plotted to kill him, the case is weighing heavy on his heart. An earlier report can be found at this page.

  Pray that the Lord will continue to be with Pastor Emre as he patiently waits for the outcome of this next stage in the legal process. May the Holy Spirit serve as the unseen Mediator in his case, bringing about justice while working out God's greater plan of salvation throughout the process. Let's stand with Pastor Emre, and other believers around the world, by interceding not only for those directly involved, but also for the many others in Turkey who have yet meet their Risen Saviour.

• Court Rules Government Failed to Protect Christians

  
  Susanne Geske, widow of martyr Tilmann Geske
  Photo: Morning Star News

  Turkish Christians have welcomed a positive court ruling in the long-running struggle for justice following the murder of three Christians in 2007. On January 26th, the Malatya Administrative Court ruled that the Interior Ministry and the Malatya Governor's Office were negligent in their duty to family members of the victims and, therefore, must give compensation.

  Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske were murdered on April 18th of 2007 at the Zirve Christian Publishing House in Malatya, a city of eastern Turkey. Five men, aged 19 and 20 at the time of the incident, were arrested at the scene and charged with the murders. It was believed that the Turkish authorities received information prior to the incident but had failed to protect the victims accordingly.

  In 2008, the families of the victims opened a case against the Interior Ministry and the Malatya Governor's Office for negligence. The recent judgement of the Malatya Administrative Court, and its decision to award compensation, is a step towards justice being upheld. However, there is much discouragement surrounding the delays in the ongoing trial of the perpetrators of the murders. Although police arrested five suspects almost immediately after the crime was reported, prosecuting them has been problematic from the start. The judges have been changed at least twice, and the prosecutors four times, causing significant delays.

  Especially galling to families of the victims, the five suspects in the trial were released on bail on March 10th, 2014 under a new reform law that reduced the allowable period of pre-trial detention from ten years to five. Under public pressure, authorities required the accused to wear electronic monitoring devices. Despite this, the release has caused concern among the families and friends of the victims due to previous threats made by the suspects. Yet, in the midst of the ongoing murder trial and their grievous loss, the families are greatly encouraged by God's promises and the faithful prayers of His people. To view a previous video clip on their situation, click here.

  Please join our Turkish brothers and sisters in intercession, asking that those close to the victims will experience "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) and His protection as the murder trial process continues. Pray that the trial will be brought to a conclusion without further delay and that appropriate sentences will be given to those responsible for the crime. May all those who aided or perpetrated the murders have a deep conviction over the seriousness of their sin, and the immense pain it has caused the victims' families, not to mention our Heavenly Father's own heart...ultimately leading them to experience the depths of His forgiveness and provision of salvation through His Son Jesus.

• Churches Threatened to Convert to Islam

  
  In Turkey, 20 evangelical
  churches have received
  threatening messages
  from Islamic extremists.

  About 20 evangelical churches in Turkey have recently received threatening messages from the Turkish branch of the self-proclaimed Islamic State. The messages, which have been sent via Facebook, text and email, often include upsetting videos and pictures. The militants responsible for sending these messages state that they are tired of waiting for Christians to return to Islam, adding cruel comments such as, "Quranic commandments... urge us to slay the apostate like you." While the church leaders have reported the threats to authorities, we ask that you join us in praying for the protection of these churches and for God's guidance to be granted to their leaders.

  Although Turkey has been officially secular since 1924, nearly 97 percent of the overall population represents its Muslim majority. Religious minorities are often denied the right to provide religious education and maintain places of worship, despite a constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. In addition, Christians are frequently subjected to discrimination, slander, personal assault, and violent attacks against their churches. Although there has been great hostility demonstrated toward the followers of Christ in various areas of the Middle East, we are reminded through God's Word that He is able to transform the hearts and minds of the perpetrators...bringing them from the realm of darkness into His Kingdom of light and love. Information and reports addressing the persecution of Christians in Turkey are available at the Turkey Country Report.

  As these Turkish Christians earnestly seek God's wisdom and direction, in response to the threatening messages and other forms of persecution they've endured, may they clearly sense and heed His Holy Spirit's promptings -- always endeavouring to speak the truth in love. Ask the Lord to protect them as they continue boldly gathering together for times of worship and fellowship, while also reaching out to the non-believing members of their communities with His compassion and blessing. Finally, please pray for an increase of religious freedom in Turkey, and the empowerment of Christians to embrace that freedom for the furtherance of the Gospel and God's glory.

• School Courses Clash with Christian Values

  
  European Court of Human Rights building
  Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CherryX

  Governing officials in Turkey have twice lost cases (in the years 2007 and 2014) at the European Court of Human Rights concerning their compulsory Religious Culture and Knowledge of Ethics classes, as they do not respect the 'freedom of religion or belief' of its citizens; namely, applicable parents, guardians and pupils. In September of 2014, the European Court stated that "Turkey had to remedy the situation without delay." Yet the only course of action thus far had been preparations made by the Education Ministry for a plan involving wide consultation with civil society on the courses in question. This plan is awaiting government approval after the elections.

  Another systemic violation of 'freedom of religion or belief' in the educational system involves the country's optional lessons in Islam which many have found are, in reality, "compulsory optional." Fear of discrimination and harassment from teachers and other pupils, as well as the slowness of the legal system, are the main reasons many people have not taken legal action to protect their rights. Unless effective protection of 'freedom of religion or belief' in education is implemented, the state will continue to lose such cases before the European Court. For more on the challenges facing believers in this country, go to this page.

  As Turkish Christians seek the Lord's counsel, we ask Him to alleviate their fears and embolden them to voice their concerns in love. May they continue trusting Him to transform the hearts of government officials and school administrators so a curriculum that does not dishonour Him and His followers will be effectively implemented. Pray that the religious freedom of believers will increase in Turkey, and that they will be able to use this freedom to bless others through evangelism, discipleship, hospitality and other forms of fellowship.

• Death Threats Target Church Congregants

  Fifteen Turkish congregants and their leaders have been targeted since August 27th by a strident campaign of death threats sent to their Facebook pages, email addresses, websites and mobile phones. The threats followed the style and jargon typically used by Islamic State (IS/ISIS), vowing to kill, massacre and behead apostates whose messages have allegedly "chosen the path that denies Allah" and "dragged others into believing...."

  "Threats are not anything new for the Protestant community who live in this country and want to raise their children here," explains a representative of the Association of Protestant Christians in Turkey during a press release. "But with the recent increase in systematic threats...we think these messages, coming close together and resembling each other, are from the same source."

  The majority of these Turkish congregation members are former Muslims who have converted to Christianity. In contrast to most Muslim-majority nations, Turkish citizens have the legal right to change their religious identity or leave the religion column on their identification card blank. For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkey, please go to our Turkey Country Report.

  Let's uphold in prayer these Turkish believers who have been threatened, asking that the Lord's protection and reassuring presence be evident among them. Pray also for the country's authorities; in particular, those who are endeavouring to thwart the perpetrators of violent acts throughout the Middle East. In the midst of these present challenges, may God continue overseeing the growth of His church in Turkey, calling to repentance and salvation even those who want to render harm to His people.

• Authorities Close Down Church

  Office building in central Gaziantep where New Life Church was located Photo: World Watch Monitor

  On August 28th, local police officials sealed the premises of the New Life Church. Then just over two weeks later, on September 14th, they detained the church's American pastor, Patrick Jensen, with orders from the Interior Ministry to deport him immediately. Patrick was held for 30 hours before being permitted to return to his home in Turkey (as his case is still pending). In addition, the believer's Turkish residence permit -- valid through to November of 2015 -- was cancelled, with a temporary 30-day permit issued until the court rules on his appeal.

• Pastor Faces Conspirators in Court

  Pastor Emre

  In a nationally high-profile case, Pastor Emre Karaali appeared in court on April 1st in the first trial hearing against 13 people who conspired to murder him.

  Turkish police revealed the assassination plot to Pastor Emre in January of 2013 after arresting several of the conspirators. The pastor learned that more than a dozen people, including some who had infiltrated his church and babysat his children, had all been involved in a plan to kill him. (To learn more, please visit this page.)

• Suspects in Murder Case Temporarily Released

  The five Malatya murder suspects Photo: World Watch Monitor

  Five murder suspects on trial for torturing and killing three Christians in Malatya were released on March 7th. The five are accused of the murders of Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske at a Bible publishing house in April of 2007. (For more information on this case, click here.)